BigLift Shipping has completed a series of ten transport and discharge voyages involving the delivery of equipment and infrastructure for the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF), a joint venture project between AltaGas and Vopak.
The shipping operations began in June 2024 and involved four vessels operated by BigLift: m/v Happy Dragon, m/v Happy Star, m/v Pottersgracht, and m/v Happy Sky.
The initial phase of the assignment saw BigLift Shipping transport marine piles, steel structures, and specialised equipment using its vessel Happy Dragon.
BigLift Shipping managed complex logistics tasks, such as pre-sorting hundreds of piles of varying lengths, diameters, and weights. It also had to continuously adjust vessel schedules to meet the delivery and installation needs of the REEF project.
According to the company, these logistical challenges were addressed through cooperative planning with AltaGas, which resulted in smooth discharge operations and a sequence that supported project timelines.
Following the first deliveries, BigLift’s P14-type vessel Pottersgracht transported the first two trestle modules intended for the liquids export piers, extending from the shoreline to the offshore loading site.
The same shipment included modules for the pipe rack system, linking to both the rail offload racks and the Uplands facility.
The remaining 11 trestle modules and a Transition Platform were subsequently delivered and installed by BigLift’s Happy S-type vessels.
BigLift’s engineering team was tasked with optimising vessel intake capacities for each shipment. The team designed cargo configurations to maximise space and maintain safety standards.
In addition, the engineering staff developed a temporary mooring system to secure the Happy S-type vessels at various marine locations, with the system being designed for use at multiple mooring points.
The company stated that the completion of all ten voyages reflected its use of heavy lift expertise, engineering, and operational flexibility in managing complex offshore logistics tasks.
BigLift Shipping is a subsidiary of Dutch shipping and ship management company, Spliethoff Group.
